U.S. patent number 7,654,169 [Application Number 11/780,927] was granted by the patent office on 2010-02-02 for shift lever.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho. Invention is credited to Kenichi Kato, Tomohisa Sumi.
United States Patent |
7,654,169 |
Sumi , et al. |
February 2, 2010 |
Shift lever
Abstract
In a shift lever, when a button of a knob is pressed, a link
member is pivoted, and a detent rod is moved down. Further, impact
sound or the like is restrained or prevented from being emitted by
bringing the link member into contact with a contact member and
elastically deforming the contact member. Here, a cover portion of
the knob and the contact member are constituted by separate
members. Therefore, the cover portion of the knob and the contact
member can easily be constituted by materials suitable for
respective functions.
Inventors: |
Sumi; Tomohisa (Aichi-ken,
JP), Kato; Kenichi (Aichi-ken, JP) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha
Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho (Aichi-ken, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
38984802 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/780,927 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080022802 A1 |
Jan 31, 2008 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 31, 2006 [JP] |
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2006-208218 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
74/473.3;
74/473.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16H
59/0278 (20130101); F16H 2059/0282 (20130101); Y10T
74/20018 (20150115); Y10T 74/20085 (20150115); Y10T
74/2014 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F16H
59/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;74/473.25,473.3,473.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Fenstermacher; David M.
Assistant Examiner: Boes; Terence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roberts Mlotkowski Safran &
Cole, P.C. Cole; Thomas W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shift lever comprising: a knob provided at a tip end portion
of a main body of a lever which is made to be pivotable; a detent
rod slidably movable within said main body of said lever; a moving
member moveable along a path within the knob and operably linked to
said detent rod, the moving member moving the detent rod a
predetermined distance within said main body of said lever; and an
elastic member provided within the knob that stops the moving
member at the end of said path, said elastic member being a
separate member from the knob, and formed from an elastic material
that is softer than a material forming a covering portion of the
knob, and that elastically deforms when struck by the moving member
when the moving member completes moving said detent rod said
predetermined distance such that an impact noise is prevented or
restrained.
2. The shift lever of claim 1, further comprising: a restricting
member attached to the knob, that restricts movement of the elastic
member.
3. The shift lever of claim 2, wherein the restricting member
restricts the movement of the elastic member from a plurality of
directions.
4. The shift lever of claim 3, wherein the restricting member
includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion,
movement of the elastic member in an upper direction being
restricted by the first contact portion being contacted to the
elastic member and movement of the elastic member in a horizontal
direction being restricted by the second contact portion being
contacted to the elastic member.
5. The shift lever of claim 4, wherein the first contact portion
and the second contact portion are a horizontal face and a side
face of a notch portion of the restricting member respectively, the
notch portion being formed at the restricting member at a lower
side and having a substantially rectangular shape.
6. The shift lever of claim 4, wherein the elastic member includes
an upper portion and a side portion, the upper portion being
interfered with the moving member when the moving member is moved,
and the first contact portion and the second contact portion being
contacted with the side portion.
7. The shift lever of claim 6, wherein the elastic member is
attached to the covering portion by the side portion being engaged
with an engaging portion formed at the covering portion at a lower
side.
8. The shift lever of claim 2, wherein the covering portion and the
elastic member are separate members.
9. The shift lever of claim 8, wherein the elastic member is
provided with a latching portion, and the latching portion is
latched with a latched portion formed at the covering portion.
10. The shift lever of claim 2, wherein the restricting member is
provided inside the covering portion.
11. The shift lever of claim 1, wherein the knob is formed from a
hard resin material and the elastic member is formed from a
relatively softer material.
12. A shift lever comprising: a knob made of a hard resin material
provided at a tip end portion of a main body of a lever which is
made to be pivotable; a detent rod slidably movable within said
main body of said lever; a moving member moveable along a path
within the knob and operably linked to said detent rod, the moving
member moving the detent rod a predetermined distance within said
main body of said lever; and an elastic member provided within the
knob that stops the moving member at the end of said path, said
elastic member being a separate member from the knob, and formed
from an elastic material that is softer than the hard resin
material forming the knob, and that elastically deforms when struck
by the moving member when the moving member completes moving said
detent rod said predetermined distance such that an impact noise is
prevented or restrained, said elastic member including at least one
latching claw for mounting the elastic member into the knob.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese
Patent Application No. 2006-208218 the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a shift lever for operating a
transmission of a vehicle or the like.
2. Related Art
There is a shift lever in which by operating a button provided at a
knob, a link member is pivoted, and a detent rod is moved (refer
to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (JP-A) No.
2006-51862).
According to the shift lever, when the link member is pivoted, by
bringing the link member into contact with a contact portion
provided at a cover portion of the knob, the contact portion is
elastically deformed, and impact sound is restrained or prevented
from being emitted.
Here, according to the shift lever, the cover portion and the
contact portion of the knob are integrally molded. Therefore, it is
difficult to constitute the cover portion of the knob by a hard
material suitable for being grabbed by an occupant (a driver) and
constitute the contact portion by a soft material suitable for
restraining or preventing impact sound from being emitted.
SUMMARY
In consideration of the fact, the present invention provides a
shift lever easily capable of constituting a knob and an elastic
member by materials suitable for respective functions thereof.
A shift lever of a first aspect of the present invention includes a
knob provided at a tip end portion of a main body of a lever which
is made to be pivotable; a moving body which is provided movably in
the knob; a moving member provided at the knob, the moving body
being moved by the moving member being moved; and an elastic member
provided at the knob that is a separate member from the knob, and
elastically deforms by being interfered with by the moving member
when the moving member is moved.
A shift lever of a second aspect of the present invention according
to the first aspect further includes a restricting member attached
to the knob, that restricts movement of the elastic member.
According to a shift lever of a third aspect of the present
invention according to the second aspect, the restricting member
restricts the movement of the elastic member from plural
directions.
According to the shift lever of the first aspect of the present
invention, the knob is provided at the tip end portion (top end
portion) of the lever main body made to be pivotable and the moving
body is movably provided in the knob. Further, the moving body is
moved by moving of the moving member provided at the knob. Further,
the elastic member is provided at the knob, when the moving member
is moved, the moving member interferes with the elastic member, and
the elastic member is elastically deformed. Thereby, impact sound
is restrained or prevented from being emitted.
Here, the knob and the elastic member are constituted by separate
members. Therefore, the knob and the elastic member can be
constituted by materials suitable for respective functions.
According to the shift lever of the second aspect of the present
invention, the restricting member attached to the knob restricts
the movement of the elastic member. Therefore, even when the
elastic member receives a load from the moving member, the elastic
member can be fixed to the knob.
According to the shift lever of the third aspect of the present
invention, the restricting member restricts the movement of the
elastic member from the plural directions. Therefore, even when the
elastic member receives a load from the moving member, the elastic
member can firmly be fixed to the knob.
In the aspects of the present invention, it is possible that the
knob is provided with a covering portion, and the covering portion
and the elastic member are separate members.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the restricting member is provided inside the covering
portion.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the restricting member includes a first contact portion and a
second contact portion, movement of the elastic member in an upper
direction being restricted by the first contact portion being
contacted with the elastic member and movement of the elastic
member in a horizontal direction being restricted by the second
contact portion being contacted with the elastic member.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the elastic member is provided with a latching portion, and
the latching portion is latched with a latched portion formed at
the covering portion.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the first contact portion and the second contact portion are a
horizontal face and a side face of a notch portion of the
restricting member respectively, the notch portion being formed at
the restricting member at a lower side and having a substantially
rectangular shape.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the elastic member includes an upper portion and a side
portion, the upper portion being interfered with the moving member
when the moving member is moved, and the first contact portion and
the second contact portion being contacted with the side
portion.
Further, in the aspects of the present invention, it is possible
that the elastic member is attached to the covering portion by the
side portion being engaged with an engaging portion formed at the
covering portion at a lower side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a vicinity of a knob
of a shift lever according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the vicinity of the knob of the shift
lever according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view in correspondence with FIG. 2 showing an
initial stage of bringing a link member into contact with a contact
member;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view in correspondence with FIG. 2 showing a
final stage of bringing the link member into contact with the
contact member;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an outline of a constitution of
a base end side of a lever main body;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential portion of a shift
lever according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plane view of the essential portion of the shift lever
according to the embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 8A and 8B are views of an essential portion of a shift lever
according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8A is a
side view, and FIG. 8B is a front view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Constitution of Embodiment
FIG. 1 shows a structure of an essential portion of a shift lever
10 according to an embodiment of the present invention by a
perspective view and FIG. 2 shows a structure of the essential
portion of the shift lever 10 by a sectional view.
As shown by the drawings, the shift lever 10 includes a lever main
body 12. The lever main body 12 is formed in a shape of a cylinder
an inner portion of which is hollow by a synthetic resin material
or a metal material.
Although a detailed illustration will be omitted, a base end side
(lower side in FIG. 2) of the lever main body is brought to, for
example, an inner side of a housing substantially in a box-like
shape attached to a vehicle body, and the lever main body 12 is
axially supported pivotably by a shaft both ends of which are
supported by side walls of the housing, for example, around an
axial direction thereof whose direction is a substantially vehicle
left and right direction.
Further, as shown by FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a detent rod 14 in a
rod-like shape serving as a moving body is accommodated at an inner
side of the lever main body 12 so as to be movable along a
longitudinal direction of the lever main body 12. One end portion
(upper end portion in FIG. 2) in a longitudinal direction of the
detent rod 14 is projected from an opening end formed at a tip
(top) end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 2) of the lever main
body 12.
As shown by FIG. 5, the base end side of the inner portion of the
lever main body 12 is closed. A compression coil spring 15 serving
as a second urging member is arranged between an inner bottom
portion of the lever main body 12 and the detent rod 14, and the
compression coil spring 15 urges the detent rod 14 to a tip end
side (that is, upper side in FIG. 5) of the lever main body 12.
Further, a pair of detent pins 17 are projected from an outer
peripheral portion on the base end side in the longitudinal
direction of the detent rod 14. The outer peripheral portion on the
base end side of the lever main body 12 is formed with slit holes
19 for communicating inside and outside of the lever main body 12
in correspondence with the detent pins 17.
Tip end sides of the detent pins 17 are projected to the outer
peripheral portion of the lever main body 12 by passing the slit
holes 19. The slit hole 19 constitutes a longitudinal shape along
the longitudinal direction of the lever main body 12, and the
detent pin 17 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the
slit hole 19 in a state of passing the slit hole 19, that is, in
the longitudinal direction of the lever main body 12.
Side walls of the housing are formed with detent holes (not
illustrated) in correspondence with the tip end sides of the detent
pins 17 projected from the slit holes 19, and the tip end sides of
the detent pins 17 are brought to inner sides of the detent holes.
A projected portion (not illustrated) is formed at a predetermined
portion of a face of an inner peripheral face of the detent hole
directed to a lower side (further in details, a center side in a
pivoting radius direction of the lever main body 12), and when the
lever main body 12 reaches a predetermined pivoting position (shift
position), the projected portion and the detent pin 17 are opposed
(faced) to each other along a pivoting peripheral direction of the
lever main body 12.
When the lever main body 12 is intended to pivot in a state of
making the projected portion and the detent pin 17 opposed (faced)
to each other in this way, the projected portion interferes with
the detent pin 17. Thereby, pivoting of the detent pin 17, and
therefore, pivoting of the lever main body 12 is restricted.
However, when the detent rod 14 is moved to the base end side of
the lever main body 12 against an urge force of the compression
coil spring 15, a state of making the detent pin 17 and the
projected portion opposed (faced) to each other is released. When
the lever main body 12 is pivoted under the state, the detent pin
17 avoids the projected portion to thereby constitute a structure
of capable of pivoting the lever main body 12.
On the other hand, as shown by FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a tip end portion
of the lever main body 12 is provided with a knob 16. The knob 16
includes a base 18 constituting a knob main body. The base 18 is
formed by a metal or a comparatively hard synthetic resin material.
The base 18 includes a cylindrical portion 20. The cylindrical
portion 20 is formed by a shape of a cylinder both ends of which
are opened.
One end side (lower side of FIG. 2) of a middle portion in a
penetrating direction of the cylindrical portion 20 is brought to
the inner side of the lever main body 12 from the opening end of
the lever main body 12 to be mechanically connected to the lever
main body 12, and one end side of the detent rod 14 is brought to
an inner side of the cylindrical portion 20.
Further, the base 18 includes a holding portion 22. The holding
portion 22 includes a main body 24 opened to one side in a
direction orthogonal to a penetrating direction (up and down
direction of FIG. 2) of the cylindrical portion 20. The main body
24 is integrally connected to other end (upper end) of the
cylindrical portion 20 except a predetermined gap. An upper end
portion of the main body 24 is continuously formed with a holding
wall 26 and the upper end portion of the main body 24 is closed by
the holding wall 26.
A cover portion 28 is provided on an outer side of the base 18
constituted by the cylindrical portion 20 and the holding portion
22. The cover portion 28 is formed in a shape which is easy to be
grabbed by a vehicle occupant by a comparatively hard synthetic
resin although softer than the base 18. Further, the cover portion
28 is formed with a mounting hole 30, and the mounting hole 30 is
opened along a direction of an opening of the main body 24.
As shown in FIG. 6 through FIGS. 8A and 8B in details, at the cover
portion 28, a pair of mounting bases 120 in a shape of a
rectangular pillar constituting mounting portions are integrally
formed, the pair of mounting bases 120 are respectively projected
from a portion on a side opposed to the mounting hole 30 of the
cover portion 28 onto the cylindrical portion 20 on an inner side
of the holding portion 22, and are opposed (faced) to each other in
a state of being separated from each other in a direction
orthogonal to the penetrating direction of the cylindrical portion
20 and the direction of the opening of the main body 24. A fitting
groove 122 having a section in a rectangular shape is constituted
between the pair of mounting bases 120, the fitting groove 122 is
opened in the direction of the opening of the main body 24 and an
end thereof on a side opposed to the direction of the opening of
the main body 24 is closed by the cover portion 28.
At the cover portion 28, a pair of fitting bases 124 substantially
in a shape of a rectangular pillar constituting fitting portions
are integrally formed, the pair of fitting bases 124 are
respectively projected from a portion on a side opposed to the
mounting hole 30 of the cover portion 28 onto the mounting bases
120 on the inner side of the holding portion 22 so as to be
integral with the mounting bases 120, and opposed (faced) to each
other in a state of being separated from each other in the
direction of making the pair of mounting bases 120 opposed (faced)
to each other. An end of the fitting base 124 in the direction of
the opening of the main body 24 is arranged on a side opposed to
the direction of the opening of the main body 24 in comparison with
an end in the direction of the opening main body 24 of the mounting
base 120 and the fitting groove 122 is constituted between the pair
of fitting bases 124.
In each fitting base 124, a fitting hole 126 is formed constituting
an inserted portion, and the fitting hole 126 is opened to a side
of the fitting groove 122. A portion on a side of the direction of
the opening of the main body 24 of the fitting hole 126 is
constituted by a shape of a rectangular pillar and is opened to an
upper side and a side of the direction of the opening of the main
body 24, and a portion thereof on a side opposed to the direction
of the opening of the main body 24 is constituted by a shape of a
horizontal trapezoidal pillar and a width in the up and down
direction is gradually reduced as proceeding to the side opposed to
the direction of the opening of the main body 24.
The cover portion 28 is formed with a latching hole 128 in a shape
of a rectangular pillar constituting a latched portion, a side of
the latching hole 128 in the direction of the opening of the main
body 24 is communicated with the fitting groove 122 between the
pair of fitting bases 124, and a side of the latching hole 128
opposed to the direction of the opening of the main body 24 is
communicated with a space 130 formed at the cover portion 28.
As shown by FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a holder 32 constituting a
restricting member is inserted to be fitted from the mounting hole
30 of the cover portion 28. The holder 32 includes a pair of side
walls 34. The pair of side walls 34 are provided to be opposed
(faced) to each other in a direction orthogonal to both directions
of the penetrating direction of the cylindrical portion 20 and the
direction of the opening of the main body 24. A press notch 132 in
a rectangular shape constituting a contact portion is formed at a
corner portion on a lower side and a side opposed to the direction
of the opening of the main body 24 of each of the side walls 34,
and the press notch 132 includes a first contact face 132A and a
second contact face 132B respectively constituting contact faces on
the upper side and the side in the direction of the opening of the
main body 24. The first contact face 132A is mounted on the fitting
base 124 and the second contact face 132B presses a side face in
the direction of the opening of the main body 24 of the fitting
base 124 (refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B).
Further, the holder 32 includes an upper wall 36 and a vertical
wall 38. The upper wall 36 is provided along upper end portions of
the pair of side walls 34, and the vertical wall 38 is provided
along an end portion on one side (a side opposed the direction of
the opening of the main body 24) along a width direction of the
pair of side walls 34, and the pair of side walls 34 are integrally
connected by the upper wall 36 and the vertical wall 38 in a state
of maintaining a constant interval therebetween. The cover portion
28 is brought to the holder 32 by passing a communicating portion
110 formed substantially at a center in a width direction of a
lower end portion of the vertical wall 38 and a communicating
portion 112 formed substantially at a center in a width direction
of a lower end portion of a portion of the main body 24 opposed
(faced) to the vertical wall 38 along a direction of the opening of
the mounting hole 30.
Further, support pieces 40 are provided at vicinities of upper end
portions of the pair of side walls 34 and vicinities of the
mounting hole 30. A shaft 42 is provided at the support pieces 40.
One end side in a longitudinal direction of the shaft 42 penetrates
the support piece 40 on one side and is projected to a side opposed
to the support piece 40 on other side by way of the support piece
40 on one side, and other end side in the longitudinal direction of
the shaft 42 penetrates the support piece 40 on other side and is
projected to a side opposed to the support piece 40 on one side by
way of the support piece 40 on other side.
The shaft 42 is attached with a button 44 as an operating member. A
vicinity of an upper end portion of the button 44 is formed with a
pair of attaching pieces 46. The pair of attaching pieces 46 are
opposed (faced) to each other along an axial direction of the shaft
42 and end portions of the shaft 42 is respectively brought to the
pair of attaching pieces 46 on outer sides of the pair of support
pieces 40.
Thereby, the button 44 is supported by the shaft 42 pivotably
around the shaft 42. Further, the shaft 42 is provided with a
torsion coil spring 48 constituting a first urging member. One end
of the torsion coil spring 48 is extended to an upper face side of
the upper wall 36 and other end thereof is brought into press
contact with a latching piece 50 formed at the button 44 by its own
urge force. As described above, according to the button 44, the
torsion coil spring 48 is brought into press contact with the
latching piece 50 of the button 44 in a state of being pivotable
around the shaft 42, and therefore, the button 44 is urged to an
inner side in the direction of the opening of the mounting hole 30
around the shaft 42 by the torsion coil spring 48. Therefore,
unless a force opposed to the urge force of the torsion coil spring
48 is operated, a portion of the button 44 is brought to the inner
side of the mounting hole 30.
On the other hand, support pieces 52 are provided at vicinities of
lower end portions of the pair of side walls 34 and a vicinity of
the mounting hole 30 and the support piece 52 are mounted above the
mounting base 120 (refer to FIG. 8A). One end portion of a shaft 54
is supported by one of the support pieces 52, and other end portion
of the shaft 54 is supported by other of the support pieces 52. The
shaft 54 is provided in parallel with the shaft 42. A link member
56 constituting a moving member arranged between the pair of side
walls 34 is pivotably (movably) supported by the shaft 54.
The link member 56 includes a pair of side walls 58. The side walls
58 are opposed (faced) to each other along a direction of making
the pair of side walls 34 opposed (faced) to each other. A shape of
an end face of the side walls 58 is bent substantially "V" shape
and the shaft 54 is penetrated at one end sides of the bent
portions.
Further, a connecting wall 60 is provided at one end portion in a
width direction of other end side of the bent portion of the side
wall 58, and the pair of side walls 58 are integrally connected to
each other in a state of maintaining a predetermined interval
therebetween by the connecting wall 60. Further, other end side of
the bent portion of the side wall 58 is covered by a main body
portion 92 constituting an elastic member main body constituting a
cover portion 90 constituting an elastic member.
The main body portion 92 is formed in a shape of a bottomed
cylinder having a section in a rectangular shape by, for example, a
rubber material or a synthetic resin material having an elasticity
to a degree of that of the rubber member, and the main body portion
92 is mounted to the link member 56 in a state of bringing the two
side walls 58 and the connecting wall 60 from a side of an opening
end thereof.
Further, the cover portion 90 includes a contact portion 94. The
contact portion 94 is formed in a shape of a plate in parallel with
the connecting wall 60 by a material the same as that of the main
body portion 92. The contact portion 94 is provided to be separated
from the main body portion 92 in a thickness direction of the
connecting wall 60, further, the contact portion 94 is integrally
coupled to the main body portion 92 at an outer peripheral portion
thereof.
Substantially, the main body portion 92 and the contact portion 94
are integrally molded and an interval between the contact portion
94 and the main body portion 92 is made to constitute a hollow
cavity portion 96 constituting a gap portion.
On the other hand, a wall portion on a side opposed to the contact
portion 94 of the main body portion 92 is made to constitute a
pressing portion 98. The pressing portion 98 is brought into
contact with the tip end (upper end) of the detent rod 14 when the
side wall 58 (that is, the link member 58) is pivoted in one
direction around the shaft 54, and the pressing portion 98 presses
down the detent rod 14 to the base end side of the lever main body
12 against the urge force of the compression coil spring 15.
Further, a contact member 100 (cushion) constituting an elastic
member is provided above an upper end of the cylindrical portion 20
in correspondence with a position of pivoting the link member 56
when the detent rod 14 is pressed down to the base end side by a
predetermined stroke against the urge force of the compression coil
spring 15 by the pressing portion 98. The contact member 100 is
formed by, for example, a rubber material or a synthetic resin
material having an elasticity to a degree the same as that of the
rubber material and is made to be elastically deformable.
As shown in FIG. 6 through FIGS. 8A and 8B in details, the contact
member 100 includes an upper wall 102 constituting an elastic
member main body. The upper wall 102 is formed by a shape of a flat
plate of a thickness direction thereof along a direction of an
opening of an upper end opening portion of the cylindrical portion
20 and is brought into contact with a face of the fitting groove
122 on a side opposed to the direction of the opening of the main
body 24.
The upper wall 102 is integrally formed with a pair of latching
claws 140 substantially in a shape of a rectangular pillar
constituting a latching portion, the pair of latching claws 140 are
respectively extended from the upper wall 102 to a side opposed to
the direction of the opening of the main body 24 and are opposed
(faced) to each other in a state of being separated from each other
in a direction orthogonal to the penetrating direction of the
cylindrical portion 20 and the direction of the opening of the main
body 24. Latching projections 140A in a shape of a triangle pillar
are projected and formed at tip ends of the latching claws 140, and
the contact member 100 is latched by (is assembled to) the cover
portion 28 by latching the pair of latching projections 140A at a
portion of the cover portion 28 at a periphery of the latching hole
128 in a state of inserting the pair of latching claws 140 through
the latching hole 128 of the cover portion 28 and inserting the
pair of latching projections 140A to the space 130 of the cover
portion 28.
Further, vertical walls 104 are formed at both ends in a width
direction of the upper wall 102 along a direction orthogonal to
both directions of the direction of the opening of the upper end
opening portion of the cylindrical portion 20 and the direction of
the opening of the mounting hole 30. The upper wall 102 and the
pair of vertical walls 104 are fitted to the fitting groove 122,
and the vertical walls 104 are made to be brought into contact with
the mounting bases 120 and the fitting bases 124.
End portions of the vertical walls 104 on sides opposed to portions
thereof coupled to the upper wall 102 are brought into contact with
the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20 and support the upper
wall 102 in a state of separating the upper wall 102 from the upper
end of the cylindrical portion 20. By supporting the upper wall 102
in the state of separating from the upper end of the cylindrical
portion 20 in this way, a gap portion 106 is formed between the
upper wall 102 and the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20.
Further, at an end face of the upper wall 102 on a side opposed to
the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20, a projected portion
108 is formed to project to a side opposed to the gap portion 106.
A dimension of the projected portion 108 along the width direction
of the upper wall 102 is sufficiently smaller than that of the
upper wall 102 and the projected portion 108 is continuously formed
at the upper wall 102 along the direction of the opening of the
main body 24.
At the contact member 100, fitting pillars 142 are integrally
formed constituting inserting portions on outer sides of the
respective vertical walls 104, and the fitting pillars 142 are
inserted to the fitting holes 126 of the fitting base 124 from a
side of the direction of the opening of the main body 24. A portion
on a side of the direction of the opening of the main body 24 of
the fitting pillar 142 is constituted by a shape of a rectangle
pillar and is fitted to a portion on a side in the direction of the
opening of the main body 24 of the fitting hole 126, and a portion
on a side opposed to the direction of the opening of the main body
24 of the fitting pillar 142 is constituted by a shape of a
horizontal trapezoidal shape and is fitted to the portion on the
side opposed to the direction of the opening of the main body 24 of
the fitting hole 126. A portion on a side in the direction of the
opening of the main body 24 of the fitting pillar 142 is brought
into contact with (pressed to) the first contact face 132A of the
holder 32 at an upper side face thereof and is brought into contact
with (pressed to) of the second contact face 132B of the holder 32
at a side face thereof in the direction of the opening of the main
body 24.
As shown by FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a latching pin 64 in parallel with
the shafts 42, 54 is penetrated through the bent portion of the
side wall 58 of the link member 56. The button 44 is formed with a
pair of guide walls 66 in correspondence with the engaging pin 64.
The pair of guide walls 66 are opposed (faced) to each other along
the direction of making the side walls 34, 58 opposed (faced) to
each other.
The guide walls 66 are formed with guide grooves 68. A dimension of
an inner width of the guide groove 68 is extremely slightly larger
than a dimension of an outer diameter of the engaging pin 64 and
end portions of the engaging pin 64 both ends of which are
projected to outer sides of the pair of side walls 58 are brought
to inner sides of the guide grooves 68. Thereby, the button 44 and
the link member 56 are mechanically connected.
The engaging pin 64 the both ends of which are brought to the guide
grooves 68 in this way is movable relative to the button 44 between
one end and other end in a longitudinal direction of the guide
groove 68. However, relative movement of the engaging pin 64
relative to the button 44 along the width direction of the guide
grooves 68 is restricted by being interfered with inner walls of
the guide grooves 68.
Therefore, when the button 44 is pivoted around the shaft 42, the
inner walls of the guide walls 68 interfere with the latching pin
64 to press the engaging pin 64 and the link member 56 is pivoted
around the shaft 54. Further, conversely thereto, when the link
member 56 is pivoted around the shaft 54, the engaging pin 64
interferes with the inner walls of the guide grooves 68 to press
the inner walls of the guide grooves 68 and the button 44 is
pivoted around the shaft 42.
Here, as described above, the button 44 is urged in the direction
of being brought to the inner side of the mounting hole 30 by the
torsion coil spring 48, and the button 44 operated with the urge
force presses the pressing portion 98 to the detent rod 14 around
the shaft 54.
However, as described above, the detent rod 14 is urged to the
upper side of the lever main body 12 by the urge force of the
compression coil spring 15. Therefore, the detent rod 14 is going
to press up the pressing portion 98.
That is, according to the embodiment, the urge force of the coil
spring 15 is operated to be opposed to the urge force of the
torsion coil spring 48. Here, according to the embodiment, a spring
constant of the compression coil spring 15 is larger than a spring
constant of the coil spring 48.
Therefore, in a state in which an external force in a direction the
same as that of the urge force of the torsion coil spring 48, that
is, a direction of pressing the button 44 to the inner side of the
mounting hole 30 is not exerted to the button 44 separately from
the urge force of the torsion coil spring 48, the detent rod 14
urged by the compression coil spring 15 presses up the pressing
portion 98 to press the button 44 to the outer side of the mounting
hole 30.
Further, the guide grooves 68 are bent by a radius of curvature
centering on a predetermined portion on a side of the mounting hole
30 between ends on one side to ends on other side in the
longitudinal direction.
The holder 32 attached with the button 44 and the link member 56 is
constituted by a structure of being mounted to the knob 16 by being
inserted to be fitted to the inner side of the knob 16 from the
mounting hole 30 and fitting an elastic fitting piece 70 formed at
the upper wall 36 to a fitting hole 72 to thereby prevent the
elastic fitting piece 70 from being drawn to the outer side of the
mounting hole 30.
Operation, Effect of the Embodiment
Next, operation and effect of the embodiment will be explained.
When the shift lever 10 is pivoted centering on an axially
supported portion of the base end side in a state of grabbing the
knob 16 to reach a previously set pivoting position (shift
position), a position of pivoting the lever main body 12 is
detected by a position detecting apparatus of a magnetic sensor of
a Hall element or the like or a microswitch or the like provided at
the housing. An electric signal in correspondence with a result of
detecting the position of pivoting the lever main body 12 by the
position detecting apparatus is inputted to ECU for controlling an
automatic transmission. A shift range of the automatic transmission
is changed in accordance with the inputted electric signal (that
is, the result of detecting the position of pivoting the lever main
body 12) at ECU.
Further, for example, in a state in which the lever main body 12
reaches a shift position in correspondence with a neutral range of
shutting off transmission of a drive force of an engine to a wheel
(hereinafter, the shift position (first shift position) is referred
to as "N position" for convenience of explanation) a projected
portion formed at the detent hole is disposed on a locus of
pivoting the detent pin 17 when the lever main body 12 is pivoted
to a shift position for moving back the vehicle by transmitting the
drive force of the engine to the wheel from the N position
(hereinafter, the shift position (second shift position) is
referred to as "R position" for convenience of explanation) to be
opposed (faced) to the detent pin 17.
When the lever main body 12 is simply going to be pivoted to a side
of the R position under the state, the projected portion of the
detent hole is brought into contact with the detent pin 17 to
restrict pivoting of the detent pin 17. By restricting pivoting of
the detent pin 17 in this way, pivoting of the lever main body 12
to the side of the R position is restricted. Thereby, the lever
main body 12 can be prevented from being pivoted unpreparedly from
the N position to the R position.
On the other hand, when the button 44 is pivoted around the shaft
42 by pressing the button 44 provided at the knob 16 as shown by
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 in a state in which the lever main body 12
reaches the N position as described above, a lower end side of the
button 44 is moved to an inner side of the knob 16. When the button
44 is pivoted in this way, the inner wall of the guide groove 68 is
pivoted along with the button 44 to press the outer peripheral
portion of the engaging pin 64 in a pivoting peripheral direction
of the button 44.
However, the engaging pin 64 is integrally connected to the two
side walls 58 of the link member 56 at a middle portion thereof in
the longitudinal direction, further, by supporting the link member
56 connected with the engaging pin 64 by the shaft 54, the movement
of the engaging pin 64 is restricted to pivoting around the shaft
54. Therefore, the engaging pin 64 receiving a pressing force from
the inner wall of the guide groove 68 is pivoted in one direction
around the shaft 54 (right-handed direction of FIG. 2 through FIG.
4) by being accompanied by the link member 56.
When the link member 56 is pivoted in one direction around the
shaft 54 in this way, the pressing portion 98 provided at the link
member 56 presses the tip end portion of the detent rod 14 against
the urge force of the compression coil spring 15 provided at the
inner portion of the lever main body 12 to move down (move) the
detent rod 14 to the base end side of the lever main body 12.
By moving down the detent rod 14 in this way, the detent pin 17
integral with the detent rod 14 is moved down, thereby, the state
of the detent pin 17 and the projected portion of the detent hole
being opposed (faced) to each other along the direction of pivoting
the detent pin 17 when pivoting the lever main body 12 from the N
position to the R position is released.
Therefore, even when the lever main body 12 is pivoted from the N
position to the R position under the state, the detent pin 17 is
pivoted by avoiding the projected portion of the detent hole.
Therefore, the lever main body 12 can be pivoted from the N
position to the R position, and the shift range of the automatic
transmission can be changed to the reverse range.
However, when the link member 56 is pivoted in one direction around
the shaft 54 by pivoting the engaging pin 64 in one direction
around the shaft 54 (right-handed direction of FIG. 2 through FIG.
4) by being accompanied by the link member 56, a tip end of the
link member 56 on a side of providing the cover portion 90 is made
to be proximate to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20.
Further, when the pressing portion 98 moves down the detent rod 14
against the urge force of the compression coil spring 15 until
releasing the state of the detent pin 17 and the projected portion
of the detent hole being opposed (faced) to each other along the
direction of pivoting the detent pin 17 when the lever main body 12
is pivoted from the N position to the R position, substantially,
the upper end face of the cylindrical portion 20 and the tip end of
the pressing portion 98 are made to be opposed (faced) to each
other in the direction of the opening of the upper end opening
portion of the cylindrical portion 20.
However, as described above, the upper end face of the cylindrical
portion 20 is provided with the contact member 100 in
correspondence with the tip end of the pressing portion 98, when
the tip end of the link member 56, on a side of being provided with
the cover portion 90, is pivoted in a direction toward approaching
the upper end face of the cylindrical portion 20, as shown by FIG.
3 and FIG. 4, the pressing portion 98 is brought into contact with
the contact member 100.
The upper wall 102 of the contact member 100 is supported by the
upper end face of the cylindrical portion 20 by way of the vertical
wall 104, and therefore, the pressing portion 98, and therefore,
the link member 56 is interfered with the upper end face of the
cylindrical portion 20 by way of the contact member 100 and further
pivoting of the link member 56 is restricted by the upper end face
of the cylindrical portion 20.
Here, according to the embodiment, the cover portion 90 (pressing
portion 98) and the contact member 100 are molded by a rubber
material or a synthetic resin material having an elasticity to a
degree of the rubber material, and therefore, an impact when the
pressing portion 98 is brought into contact with the contact member
100 (upper wall 102 and projected portion 108) by pivoting the link
member 56 is absorbed by elastically deforming the cover portion 90
and the contact member 100. Thereby, an impact sound or the like
caused by the impact when the pressing portion 98 is brought into
contact with the contact member 100 can effectively be restrained
or prevented.
On the other hand, when the pressing force exerted to the button 44
is released, the detent rod 14 urged by the compression coil spring
15 presses up the pressing portion 98. Thereby, when the link
member 56 is pivoted around the shaft 54, the engaging pin 64
presses the inner wall of the guide groove 68 and pivots the button
44 around the shaft 42 against the urge force of the torsion coil
spring 48. Thereby, the button 44 is pressed out to the outer side
of the mounting hole 30.
Here, when the link member 56 is pivoted as described above, the
connecting wall 60 of the link member 56 is made to be proximate to
a lower end of the vertical wall 80. When the connecting wall 60 of
the link member 58 is made to be proximate to the lower end portion
of the vertical wall 80 by a predetermined distance, as shown by
FIG. 2, the contact portion 94 constituting the cover portion 90 is
brought into contact with the lower end portion of the vertical
wall 80.
By bringing the contact portion 94 into contact with the lower end
portion of the vertical wall 80 in this way, the connecting wall 60
of the link member 56 interferes with the lower end portion of the
vertical wall 80 by way of the main body portion 92, the cavity
portion 96, and the contact portion 94. Thereby, further pivoting
of the link member 56 by the urge force of the torsion coil spring
48 is restricted, and therefore, pivoting of the button 44 is
restricted.
Here, the cover portion 90 is formed by a rubber material or a
synthetic resin material having an elasticity to a degree of that
of the rubber material. Therefore, the contact portion 94 is
elastically deformed by a press reaction force when the contact
portion 94 is brought into contact to press the lower end portion
of the vertical wall 80. An impact when the contact portion 94 is
brought into contact with the lower end portion of the vertical
wall 80 is absorbed by elastically deforming the contact portion
94. Thereby, an impact sound caused by such an impact can be
alleviated or the impact sound can be prevented from being
emitted.
Meanwhile, the cover portion 28 of the knob 16 and the contact
member 100 are constituted by separate members. Therefore, the
cover portion 28 of the knob 16 and the contact member 100 can
easily be constituted by materials suitable for respective
functions thereof, whereas the cover portion 28 of the knob 16 can
be constituted by a hard material optimum for being grabbed by an
occupant, the contact member 100 can be constituted by a soft
material optimum for restraining or preventing an impact sound from
being emitted.
Further, the portion of the fitting pillar 142 of the contact
member 100 on the side in the direction of the opening of the main
body 24 is brought into contact with the first contact face 132A of
the holder 32 at the upper side face and is brought into contact
with the second contact face 132B of the holder 32 at the side face
in the direction of the opening of the main body 24, and the
movement of the contact member 100 is restricted from the upper
side and the side of the opening of the main body 24. Therefore,
even when the contact member 100 (particularly, the upper wall 102
and the projected portion 108) receives an overload or receives a
repeated load from the pressing portion 98 of the link member 56,
by the fitting pillar 142 being pressed from plural directions by
the first contact face 132A and the second contact face 132B,
latching of the contact member 100 to the cover portion 28 by the
latching claws 140 can be prevented from being released, and the
contact member 100 can firmly be fixed to the knob 16 (the cover
portion 28).
Further, according to the embodiment, as described above, there is
a constructed a constitution of pivoting both of the button 44 and
the link member 56. However, from a view point of the present
invention described in the scope of claims, a mode of moving the
button 44 and the link member 56 is not limited to pivoting but may
be a linear displacement.
Further, although according to the embodiment, the link member 56
serves as the moving member, from a view point of the present
invention described in the scope of claims, the moving member is
not limited to the link member 56. That is, for example, when there
is constructed a constitution of directly pressing the detent rod
14 by the button 44 without providing the link member 56, further,
when there is constructed a constitution in which even when a
middle member such as the link member 56 is provided, the button 44
is provided separately from the middle member, and the moved button
44 is brought into contact with the middle member to further move
the middle member, the button 44 can also be grasped as the moving
member.
Further, although according to the embodiment, there is constructed
a constitution of providing the engaging pin 64 at the link member
56 by forming the guide groove 68 at the button 44, there may be
constructed a constitution in which the guide groove 68 is formed
at the link member 56 and the engaging pin 64 is provided at the
button 44.
Further, according to the embodiment, there is constructed a
constitution of detecting the position of pivoting the lever main
body 12 by the position detecting apparatus of a magnetic sensor of
a Hall element or the like or a microswitch or the like. However,
the constitution of detecting the position of pivoting the lever
main body 12 is not limited to such a position detecting
apparatus.
Further, there may be constructed a constitution of providing a
connecting member of a wire, a cable or the like for displacing a
portion of connecting with the lever main body 12 in accordance
with pivoting of the lever main body 12, connecting the lever main
body 12 directly or indirectly to an automatic transmission by way
of the connecting member, and detecting the position of pivoting
the lever main body 12 by the automatic transmission based on a
direction of displacing and an amount of displacing the connecting
member.
* * * * *